Nasty winter ahead for asthma sufferers
This winter is likely to be worse than others for asthma sufferers. The National Asthma Council Australia (NACA) has warned that already over 58% of adults with the condition have had an attack this winter.
The survey also revealed that many had no intention of having their lungs checked and are yet to be vaccinated for influenza. Only 40% had an up-to-date written asthma action plan.
“This new review of asthma sufferers (conducted this month) suggests they are being hit hard. It is imperative anyone with asthma visits their GP within the next seven to 10 days for a lung health check, including flu vaccination, before the depth of winter hits,” said Associate Professor Peter Wark, NACA director.
NACA is also using the latest asthma death toll statistics as an urgent wake up call for Australians to take asthma seriously. According to the new data provided by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 449 people died from asthma in 2008.
This represents an increase in mortality of just over 16%, compared with 2007 data. However during the last decade the overall numbers of asthma deaths have decreased by around 35%.
While deaths from asthma were recorded in all age groups in 2008, Dr Whitby from the Council points at older Australians as the group most at risk of dying from asthma.
In 2008, over 76% of asthma deaths occurred in adults aged 60 years and over, with 343 deaths recorded in this group.
Dr Whitby urged people with asthma and their carers to be particularly vigilant over the coming winter months.
